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It's only the future of a political party. No big deal.

Nothing is probably going to happen between now and January 1. However, once we hit the New Year look for people to start making announcements and jumping into the race. First, it’ll be exploratory committees and then before you know it crappy bio/policy books and then full blown announcements. By February 25, the start of CPAC, look for at least 7-8 Republicans to at least have exploratory committees.

Jeb Bush is going to actively explore a run for the White House. I wonder what he’ll find? Maybe diamonds, gold, a lost civilization, or a many rich, older,white guys who are really pumped to have yet ANOTHER Bush in the White House.

Hard to say isn’t it.

This does have HUGE implications on the race. First, Chris Christie is no longer the favorite to win the backing of Bush Republicans (what some call the Establishment). Bush will have instant access to their money and support, which Christie was banking on for a run. Second, Marco Rubio will feel the squeeze. Although his star was already on the decline having Bush in the race means many Florida people will be torn between the two and probably go with the elder over the Senator.

Third, Democrats can no longer assume 2016 will be a slam dunk. If Bush is the nominee he will be a tough opponent. He puts Florida, Colorado and Nevada back in play and takes away the chance for the Democrats to take Arizona or North Carolina.

However, he has some big obstacles to overcome. First, it’s not like the last President Bush was all that popular at the end of his second term. In a general election that will definitely be a factor. Second, he goes against the CPAC crowd on issues including immigration reform and Common Core education standards. Third, it’s not he is a fresh face and is a little rusty, considering he hasn’t run for anything since 2002 (that’s 12 years kids).

If Bush does just in, if only because of name ID, he’ll jump to the top of the polls. Can he stay there?

James Carville once said running for President is kind of like sex, most people want to do it more than once. In this spirit, Rick Santorum has decided to get screwed over once again. The two-term Pennsylvania Republican Senator is going to give it another go in 2016. Santorum, who shocked the political world by winning the Iowa Caucuses and came with about 2 percentage points in Ohio or Michigan from throwing the 2012 GOP race into chaos, will start out as an underdog. However, that is where he began last time.

If he is going to be in the mix Santorum will need the support of social conservatives, who were critical to his campaign last time. Can you get them? He will certainly have challengers in the form of Cruz, Paul and Huckabee. One advantage he has is that this isn’t his first rodeo. Unlike Paul and Cruz, has been through this before so there are no new revelations about him to be unearthed. If you don’t believe me Google it.

Honestly, Santorum is yesterday’s news who caught the anti-Romney wave in the 2012 primary at just the right time. This time he won’t have Willard Romney to kick around so I really doubt he’ll get out of single digits in the polls. He will probably grab the most headlines with his passionate attacks on gay marriage and the GOP becoming more socially moderate. Surely, he’ll go after any candidate who dears to push the party in that direction.

If America was looking for a Republican with a long resume and was part of the Bush administration it missed out on a big opportunity. Senator Rob Portman has announced he will not run for President. On paper Portman looked like a strong contender – moderate in demeanor, solid conservative credentials, from the biggest swing state. His problem is that those are all strengths in a general election. In a primary he’s a disadvantage because he doesn’t really light a fire under people.

Bush Republicans will have to look elsewhere. Although Portman will definitely resurface as a likely VP choice.

Ricker had his chance in 2012 and he blew it. When he entered the race in August 2011 Perry was an instant contender. In reality this had little to do with him and everything to do with the GOP’s unease with Mitt Romney. In 2016, Republican voters don’t have unease about their choices so Perry won’t have that to benefit from. Don’t look for Perry to last long and he’ll be lucky to get beyond Iowa.

Potential Republican candidate, and guaranteed drop out after the New Hampshire primary, Peter King has said he wants President Obama to say at least one nice thing about Officer Darren Wilson. King is really playing to the resentment of older white voters with that kind of talk, as though the President were taking sides in this matter and of course the black President is against the white guy. Talk like this is ridiculous and only creates worse feelings in a bad situation.

Considering Wilson now has his freedom and is alive, you’d think that would be enough. Apparently not for Congressman King and the Archie Bunkers of this world.